First published in Murder at the Beach: The Bouchercon Anthology 2014, “Honeymoon Sweet” was featured in Plan B Volume V. You can get the ebook of Plan B Volume V here, read the story online here or listen to the podcast here.

Congratulations to Craig and all the other Macavity winners!… Read the rest

]]>We are thrilled to share that Craig Faustus Buck’s story, “Honeymoon Sweet” is this year’s Macavity Award winner for best short story.

First published in Murder at the Beach: The Bouchercon Anthology 2014, “Honeymoon Sweet” was featured in Plan B Volume V. You can get the ebook of Plan B Volume V here, read the story online here or listen to the podcast here.

Congratulations to Craig and all the other Macavity winners!… Read the rest

]]>https://plan-b-magazine.com/congratulations-to-craig-faustus-buck-macavity-award-winner-for-honeymoon-sweet/feed/0831All Good Things…https://plan-b-magazine.com/all-good-things/
https://plan-b-magazine.com/all-good-things/#commentsFri, 07 Aug 2015 15:26:10 +0000http://plan-b-magazine.com/?p=820It’s been a great couple of years of stories, but as of now Plan B is on hiatus.

We may return in the future with more tales of plans gone wrong, but for now we are focussing on other projects. Thanks for reading, listening, commenting, writing and otherwise being part of Plan B.… Read the rest

]]>It’s been a great couple of years of stories, but as of now Plan B is on hiatus.

We may return in the future with more tales of plans gone wrong, but for now we are focussing on other projects. Thanks for reading, listening, commenting, writing and otherwise being part of Plan B.… Read the rest

]]>https://plan-b-magazine.com/all-good-things/feed/2820The Good Neighbor by Lawrence Buentellohttps://plan-b-magazine.com/the-good-neighbor-by-lawrence-buentello/
https://plan-b-magazine.com/the-good-neighbor-by-lawrence-buentello/#respondFri, 31 Jul 2015 15:00:25 +0000http://plan-b-magazine.com/?p=746Listen to this story on the podcast.

All her neighbors agreed that Henrietta Soames had murdered her husband.

An investigation followed the discovery of his body; his death was ultimately ruled a homicide. But after initially questioning Henrietta the police dismissed her as a suspect. Apparently, they had no evidence to charge her. Eventually the authorities ascribed his death to a botched burglary, which seemed reasonable to an objective observer, but not to anyone living nearby. The police simply didn’t know the circumstances the same way her neighbors knew them, nor did they take seriously her possible motives for killing him, and the crime remained unsolved.… Read the rest

All her neighbors agreed that Henrietta Soames had murdered her husband.

An investigation followed the discovery of his body; his death was ultimately ruled a homicide. But after initially questioning Henrietta the police dismissed her as a suspect. Apparently, they had no evidence to charge her. Eventually the authorities ascribed his death to a botched burglary, which seemed reasonable to an objective observer, but not to anyone living nearby. The police simply didn’t know the circumstances the same way her neighbors knew them, nor did they take seriously her possible motives for killing him, and the crime remained unsolved.… Read the rest

]]>https://plan-b-magazine.com/the-good-neighbor-by-lawrence-buentello/feed/0746Coffee and Killings by Simon Maltmanhttps://plan-b-magazine.com/coffee-and-killings-by-simon-maltman/
https://plan-b-magazine.com/coffee-and-killings-by-simon-maltman/#respondFri, 17 Jul 2015 15:00:53 +0000http://plan-b-magazine.com/?p=741Listen to this story on the podcast.

The hubbub of the cafe offered a pleasant background noise. It was Saturday and customers in the Starbucks seemed generally relaxed and to be enjoying their conversations. It was the beginning of spring and the morning sun allowed most to be in t-shirts and some to venture into shorts. Russell sat at the corner table in a sleeveless striped shirt and blue jeans. His second Frappucino sat as yet untouched while he leafed through his Classic Rock magazine. He glanced over at his Uncle Marty and then took a sip of his caramel frothy goodness.… Read the rest

The hubbub of the cafe offered a pleasant background noise. It was Saturday and customers in the Starbucks seemed generally relaxed and to be enjoying their conversations. It was the beginning of spring and the morning sun allowed most to be in t-shirts and some to venture into shorts. Russell sat at the corner table in a sleeveless striped shirt and blue jeans. His second Frappucino sat as yet untouched while he leafed through his Classic Rock magazine. He glanced over at his Uncle Marty and then took a sip of his caramel frothy goodness.… Read the rest

]]>https://plan-b-magazine.com/coffee-and-killings-by-simon-maltman/feed/0741Mysterious Private Investigations by Peter DiChellishttps://plan-b-magazine.com/mysterious-private-investigations-by-peter-dichellis/
https://plan-b-magazine.com/mysterious-private-investigations-by-peter-dichellis/#commentsFri, 03 Jul 2015 15:00:06 +0000http://plan-b-magazine.com/?p=739Listen to this story on the podcast.

Jimmy told me about the burglary almost exactly a year after it happened. Right after we got thrown out of the pawnshop where Jimmy tried to sell the jewelry.

He had gone into a house one afternoon, Jimmy told me, with a guy everybody called Howie The Dog because he could sniff out excellent burglary sites. A shaded corner house in “a nice doctor and lawyer neighborhood,” as Jimmy put it. Howie and Jimmy felt sure they’d hit big money when they saw the tuxedo and evening gown hanging in the mirrored dressing area, instead of in the closet.… Read the rest

Jimmy told me about the burglary almost exactly a year after it happened. Right after we got thrown out of the pawnshop where Jimmy tried to sell the jewelry.

He had gone into a house one afternoon, Jimmy told me, with a guy everybody called Howie The Dog because he could sniff out excellent burglary sites. A shaded corner house in “a nice doctor and lawyer neighborhood,” as Jimmy put it. Howie and Jimmy felt sure they’d hit big money when they saw the tuxedo and evening gown hanging in the mirrored dressing area, instead of in the closet.… Read the rest

]]>https://plan-b-magazine.com/mysterious-private-investigations-by-peter-dichellis/feed/11739The Asshat Fund by Todd Morrhttps://plan-b-magazine.com/the-asshat-fund-by-todd-morr/
https://plan-b-magazine.com/the-asshat-fund-by-todd-morr/#respondFri, 19 Jun 2015 15:00:37 +0000http://plan-b-magazine.com/?p=724Listen to this story on the podcast.

1.

The wire digging into my wrists and the punches to the gut and face were unnecessary. I would have given them the name based on mean looks and harsh language. Depending on the day, they could have just asked nicely.

After digging another upper cut into the extra padding around my mid-section, he said, “Give me a name.” I looked up with full intention of not only telling him a name, but spelling it. Only when I looked up, standing behind the steroid junkie beating me senseless was the asshole I was planning to rat out.… Read the rest

The wire digging into my wrists and the punches to the gut and face were unnecessary. I would have given them the name based on mean looks and harsh language. Depending on the day, they could have just asked nicely.

After digging another upper cut into the extra padding around my mid-section, he said, “Give me a name.” I looked up with full intention of not only telling him a name, but spelling it. Only when I looked up, standing behind the steroid junkie beating me senseless was the asshole I was planning to rat out.… Read the rest

]]>https://plan-b-magazine.com/the-asshat-fund-by-todd-morr/feed/0724Intimate Knowledge by Suzanne Baginskiehttps://plan-b-magazine.com/intimate-knowledge-by-suzanne-baginskie/
https://plan-b-magazine.com/intimate-knowledge-by-suzanne-baginskie/#commentsFri, 05 Jun 2015 15:00:50 +0000http://plan-b-magazine.com/?p=735Listen to this story on the podcast.

Gentlemen’s Night Club, where I pole danced, reeked of cigarette smoke and stale booze. Heat from the overhead spotlights illuminated the stage floor and made my skin clammy. I bumped and gyrated to the tune “Let’s Get it On” in front of twenty or so leering men with beer bottles in one hand and a fistful of dollars in the other. I pasted on a smile as their sweaty groping fingers slid the green stuff into my g-string.

Scanning the room, I spotted two men in designer suits sitting at a small table drinking from amber-filled glasses.… Read the rest

Gentlemen’s Night Club, where I pole danced, reeked of cigarette smoke and stale booze. Heat from the overhead spotlights illuminated the stage floor and made my skin clammy. I bumped and gyrated to the tune “Let’s Get it On” in front of twenty or so leering men with beer bottles in one hand and a fistful of dollars in the other. I pasted on a smile as their sweaty groping fingers slid the green stuff into my g-string.

Scanning the room, I spotted two men in designer suits sitting at a small table drinking from amber-filled glasses.… Read the rest

]]>https://plan-b-magazine.com/intimate-knowledge-by-suzanne-baginskie/feed/1735Broken Hearts by Laird Longhttps://plan-b-magazine.com/broken-hearts-by-laird-long/
https://plan-b-magazine.com/broken-hearts-by-laird-long/#respondFri, 22 May 2015 15:00:24 +0000http://plan-b-magazine.com/?p=730Listen to this story on the podcast.

The house was in the hot part of Hollywood. The part where the sun doesn’t shine tourist-bright and pleasant, but rather hot and oppressive; the part where you’d never dream in your wildest scar-dust dreams that there was a great big, cool blue ocean only five miles away. In this part of Hollywood, people were actually punished for their sins.

The house was between a pool hall on the right and a vacant lot on the left. It was a nice house — for a midget. It was bigger than a cardboard box but smaller than a coffin.… Read the rest

The house was in the hot part of Hollywood. The part where the sun doesn’t shine tourist-bright and pleasant, but rather hot and oppressive; the part where you’d never dream in your wildest scar-dust dreams that there was a great big, cool blue ocean only five miles away. In this part of Hollywood, people were actually punished for their sins.

The house was between a pool hall on the right and a vacant lot on the left. It was a nice house — for a midget. It was bigger than a cardboard box but smaller than a coffin.… Read the rest

]]>https://plan-b-magazine.com/broken-hearts-by-laird-long/feed/0730Red Bait by Edd Vick & Manny Frishberghttps://plan-b-magazine.com/red-bait-by-edd-vick-manny-frishberg/
https://plan-b-magazine.com/red-bait-by-edd-vick-manny-frishberg/#respondFri, 08 May 2015 15:00:52 +0000http://plan-b-magazine.com/?p=728Listen to this story on the podcast.

An amber bulb lit up on the board and Audrey Cain reflexively inserted a plug into the hole below it.

“Mr. Gray’s office. May I help you?” she asked as automatically as she had made the connection. She barely heard the name on the other end of the line before plugging in the wire to connect the call and disconnecting herself.

Another light flashed and she repeated the process, inserting the name of one of the district sales managers, Walter Huff. This time she hesitated before pulling her plug and listened to the beginning of the conversation.… Read the rest

An amber bulb lit up on the board and Audrey Cain reflexively inserted a plug into the hole below it.

“Mr. Gray’s office. May I help you?” she asked as automatically as she had made the connection. She barely heard the name on the other end of the line before plugging in the wire to connect the call and disconnecting herself.

Another light flashed and she repeated the process, inserting the name of one of the district sales managers, Walter Huff. This time she hesitated before pulling her plug and listened to the beginning of the conversation.… Read the rest